34 years old, Cop for the last 10 in SoCal. When I graduated college and got set in my career, one of my major goals was to buy and own a boat. I worked overtime like crazy, saved money from every paycheck for 7 years, and bought a Malibu LSV with cash. It took a little longer to buy and own than I planned due to marriage, home buying, and kids, but now I'm raising my kids and living the life I loved when I was growing up on the river and at the lakes.

Honestly speaking, I got one hell of a deal with the Malibu as a demo deal, as I was never planning on owning that nice of a big boat.

34, Human Resources Director, I have never understood 2 things....how do people afford boats that are 70k-125k and secondly, how do the men convince their wives to drop that kind of money on a boat? I recently found out that some people with great credit can finance a boat for 20 years.

37 years old. Vice President of Supply Chain & Operations for a major branded sporting goods company. Bought my boat right after the economic crash - plus it was a demo with low hours, all the bugs worked out, and in pristine shape. As it relates to cash versus finance - it really depends on how well you manage money. I personally finance and tie up my cash in the market as I can generate a larger return than the interest charged for financing. My philosophy is that cash is king and to tie that kind of cash up in a depreciating asset, especially in a low cost of capital market (e.g. Interest rates ) doesn't make sense.

At the end of the day - you buy lots of things in life, but you can't buy time and memories. So, however you purchase your boat it's about the experience - enjoy it!

Damn guys. We need to network! If any of you have a generic legal question that you want to shoot me, I'd be happy to try to help out if I can. Sounds like there are a lot of people on here who could hook me up with some advice and/or with a good deal on a product or two. This thread is great. I wish there was a way we could have an area on this forum that was not entirely public where we could post up more detailed personal informaiton (names, addresses, cell's, etc.).

34, Human Resources Director, never totally understood how people afford the 70K-125K boats. A local dealer did tell me that with excellent credit, they will allow someone to finance a boat for 20 years at 7% interest. It's a struggle for me to convince the wife that anything over 30k for a boat is necessary.

Yeah somehow this needs to get to WW and have them create us something. Can't believe the level of careers here. I am of no real help to anyone unless they need financial advice in Indiana. (only certified here to actually do anything) but can give advice. Insurance too for those in Indiana.

But wow, legal people, doctors, RNs, creative people, people who own companies, hard working blue collar guys, heck even a "dolphin wax" person. Wondering what that is...but....almost scared to really know.

32 - Structural Engineer - Provide structural building design for healthcare, commercial, educational, and religous facilities. Do everything from producing engineering calculations for window mullion suppliers to design on large multi-phase, multi-story developments. Wife is an RN and runs a day surgery center. Have a '99 Malibu Sunsetter D/D.....hoping to upgrade soon.

36 - Director at a Global Restructuring/Business consulting firm. Wife is a stay at home mom with our 2 kids. I have an 2008 Centurion Avy that I picked up new in March 2009 at the bottom of the boat market.

I dont think it matters whether you finance/pay cash. What matters if you can really afford it and you are not upside down in it.

Wow, I'm pretty suprised by all of the responses, just think how much cooler everyone's boats would be after networking through one another to increase everyone's business. I'm sure locations would pose a problem with some but if anyone in AL or TN has any insurance questions (tornadoe people in AL) PM me.

We specialize in direct response, call to action advertising, custom jingles, branding and Radio / TV production and placement.

It's a really fun industry and I love what I do. Most days I wear board shorts to work other days (when meeting clients I wear slacks and dress shirt). The best part about it is the freedom of schedule.

Come to think of it...I might just go ride right now before the crowds storm the beach!!

Damn guys. We need to network! If any of you have a generic legal question that you want to shoot me, I'd be happy to try to help out if I can. Sounds like there are a lot of people on here who could hook me up with some advice and/or with a good deal on a product or two. This thread is great. I wish there was a way we could have an area on this forum that was not entirely public where we could post up more detailed personal informaiton (names, addresses, cell's, etc.).

Crazy the jobs and money most people here have. I'm just a poor boy trying to enjoy a rich man's sport. My old truck and old boat get me out doing what I love. I'm a Network Admin for a government contractor, we make parachutes... Personnel systems, oxygen systems, deceleration chutes, systems for NASA/SpaceX/capsules, ejection seats, GPS guided cargo delivery systems, etc.

Seems like quite a few or the better off among us have investment properties, rentals, etc. I've been toying with that idea for a while and may give it a shot, for a lake house vacation rental. Worst case, I want to own waterfront property for myself so if it doesn't work out I'd still have that. Curious what other people's experiences have been with investment properties like that.

Crazy the jobs and money most people here have. I'm just a poor boy trying to enjoy a rich man's sport. My old truck and old boat get me out doing what I love. I'm a Network Admin for a government contractor, we make parachutes... Personnel systems, oxygen systems, deceleration chutes, systems for NASA/SpaceX/capsules, ejection seats, GPS guided cargo delivery systems, etc.

Seems like quite a few or the better off among us have investment properties, rentals, etc. I've been toying with that idea for a while and may give it a shot, for a lake house vacation rental. Worst case, I want to own waterfront property for myself so if it doesn't work out I'd still have that. Curious what other people's experiences have been with investment properties like that.

MOST people that have "investment properties" today are guys who bought starter homes and townhouses when the market was hot and couldn't sell them when it cooled and they are renting them out calling them investment properties..

It's that kind of market.. In 5 years - there will be a million people who think they are investment moguls.

Do sales. We have specialized equipment to do stuff like taking rubber build-up off runways from planes landing. Stuff like that. Nothing more awe inspiring than to be standing on a closed runway at a military base while fighter planes are doing touch and go's 500' away on the adjacent runway. I don't care what job you do - fighter pilots have the stud job. www.epsprep.com - video of our stuff working

Have on 05 Sanger V210 - all the kids love the trips on it - it really is something that the whole family gets into...which is very cool. All cash - no sweat each mont

MOST people that have "investment properties" today are guys who bought starter homes and townhouses when the market was hot and couldn't sell them when it cooled and they are renting them out calling them investment properties..

It's that kind of market.. In 5 years - there will be a million people who think they are investment moguls.

Here here!

If I could unload my "investment" property without unloading $50,000 from my bank account I would in a heartbeat. I have great tenants, but I still hate being a land lord. Maybe if I was making money, instead of losing it I'd have a different perspective!

26 - Graduated 4 years ago with a degree in economics and minor in business. I spent two years working for a big insurance company, between the commute and the cubical I hated it! Got laid off when things went south mid-09. Got picked up for at a few months later by local Commercial & Residential glass company. I work with accounting and finance and love it! Never imagined this is where I would work, but wouldn't want to be anywhere else! Just recently I went back to school, taking accounting classes.

30, contract lobbyist. Haven't had a wakeboard boat since I left construction in '05 to work my way into the public policy/politics. Finally in a spot I can start purchasing toys again. Though I have a house that's almost 100y/o that I'm working on and a houseboat that was given to me in the delta that is also a project.

Ian, Jeff.... You guys nailed that. I've been stuck with a rental that I didn't want for the last 3 years. I just nutted up and listed it for sale 2 nights ago. My wife (the CPA) did some cost analysis and showed that it wont pay for at least 10 years. I'm going to get that negative cash and put it into the market for a few years. I don't mind being a landlord, but I refuse to own anything that isn't cash flowing. Oh well. If only I'd sold when I knew I should have.

My recomendation to this thread: MARRY WELL. Hehehehe. I guess I really just lucked into that one since I met my wife in high school. Who could've known then. She works in acquisitions for one of the biggest software companies in the world.

I'm a shop foreman for a large independent German auto facility. Been here since I was cleaning the floors in high school. Hopefully someday I'll either own this place or branch off and do my own thing, but for now I can't complain. Good money and great freedom. It's hard to put a value on being able to get off work in time to wakeboard in the evenings. Besides.... I can't tell you how many peoples boats I've gotten running for them out on the lake.

40 y/o I do contract work in IT, mostly as a solutions architect (security, health sector, etc...) I recently Traded my 2006 Session 22SI for an 2011 Epic 23v. Wakeboarding is an very challenging sport and hope to keep riding for a while longer...

I used to work in the healthcare field - was the chief technology officer of a HRA / HSA / FSA shop. That went well for a few years, got bored, saved a lot of money, and started my own webhosting company.

My partner and I run one of the larger free webhosting sites on the internet (http://www.110mb.com/)... I think we currently host a little over 1.7 million sites...

Always looking for side work or clients - specialize in hosting, info security, and web app development (php/mysql)... lemme know if you need anything done...

Wife is a part-part-time nurse. We just had a baby last year - so we figured we wouldn't be going out on the lake much -- so we sold my boat. I am moving forward and hoping to pick up a steal this fall / winter though.... Thus far the summer has not felt the same...

I am 30, my wife is 28, I am an electrician doing maintenence at a wastewater treatment plant and my wife is a RN. I got my first boat when I was 21, a 85 SN2001, then a 93 sport nautique 7 years later and now a 03 SANTE. We have a very modest house and payments, no CCs, 1 vehicle loan and used the old boats to help us trade up to a newer one. We use our tax refunds to pay off loans or update the house, and work overtime to do the same.

I think the comment about how I got my wife to be on board was how much I love to board and how often I went, knowing it is a family sport and we can all go out in the boat made it easier to convince her it is money well spent. Dropping 30k on a 6 year old boat wasnt a queston for her, but after only having the sport for 2 years she was skepticle of when it would stop. I told her that this was the end game boat for me, the true 10 year boat.

45 YO marine surveyor working the whole lower half of Florida.or the whole planet for that matter depending on the boat and client. Boats from 16' to 200 tons. 100 ton master licensed,. Full ABYC accredited. 3 kids stay home mom and mortgage have me in my old center console fishing boat. She has fresh power with a four stroke Zuke and weighted throws down big enough for good riders to throw decent tricks. She is enough for now and I can ride all weekend on 20 gallons. I have been hunting for an early Supra project for a year now but no love yet.
Networking works well. Between here and THT I have traded surveyor / consulting work for IT marketing, a wakeboard, fishing tackle, accounting work and tax help. I have also met and worked hand in hand with some good young engineers.
Love it.

32, am a Broadband Supervisor for a cable company most of you have never heard of (largest of the small companies in the nation - and highest rated overall). Wife has a great career too, not that our boat is anything too fancy (just got our 01 Sunsetter VLX LS1, but did pay cash for it).

almost 30 and a correctional officer for just about 4 years. worked for a oil company for 7 yrs prior, when i bought 2 investment properties and my first boat. Yes i make money on them so i consider them investment properties. i have a wonderful wife that is 26, and works as a high school teacher.. we have 2 kids, 3 yrs old and a 5 months old, both girls. I worked hard and bought my dream boat as my first boat. a new 06 malibu 247. and have enjoyed it for 4 years.

Ron has some good advice. We could have afforded a much more expensive boat, but paying cash is a BIG bonus when buying anything. And buying new is such a waste of money. I never have, and likely never will, purchase a new car or boat - let some other sucker eat the huge depreciation, and I'll come in and snag it for 1/2 price or less in 3 years. Hell, I got my Avalanche for 60% the cost of new (more off if you went by MSRP prices), and it was less than 4 years old at the time. Wife's Audi was 2 years old, and with the certified pre-owned warranty, had more warranty than new - yet cost 40% less than people were buying them for new. Why loose all that money when it can be sunk into other things (nicer home, retirement, investments, more toys, etc.)?

37. Service Tech for Hobart Service. I work in the No. Va. area. I service some of the worlds best commerical food equipment. If you have ever eaten out, or shopped at a grocery store, Hobart equipment had a hand in preparing it.

28. I work on the family ranch, own some cattle, and am a slumlord. I own an 82 Nautique 2001 that I paid cash for in 2005 after I sold the house that I bought and rented out while I went to college. I have thought many times about updating the boat but can't really find anything out there that will do me any better.

I like the rental business. If you can buy right you can make great money. The other thing that the rental and ranch business affords is the time to do what I want. When you work you work hard but there is always time for fun too.

28. I work on the family ranch, own some cattle, and am a slumlord. I own an 82 Nautique 2001 that I paid cash for in 2005 after I sold the house that I bought and rented out while I went to college. I have thought many times about updating the boat but can't really find anything out there that will do me any better.

I like the rental business. If you can buy right you can make great money. The other thing that the rental and ranch business affords is the time to do what I want. When you work you work hard but there is always time for fun too.

i have a buddy who lives on and runs a horse ranch and he never has free time. never even been on my boat

26 y/o & a UPS driver since 2005. Never really knew how to Wakeboard till some customers on my delivery route invited me on there 2006 SAN 210. After a couple weekends on the 210, I was hooked on the sport in 2007 and those customers have been my friends ever since!

I don't own a boat but I'm very fortunate to have several friends and family members with boats.... BUT, in a few weeks I will become a first time boat owner(btw its used)! So.. expect me to be posting questions, comments, etc...

32. Sales Engineer..West Australia...We make Drill Pipe.
Paid Cash for a new X2 Last year...been in the mines since I was 20..so too the misses...two OK incomes, no Kids, no rent, no bills Happy Dayz.
Be smart with ya dosh and reap the benifits

Police Officer & a commercial helicopter pilot on the side, but I would like to flip that around someday. I make decent money, but the cost of living in souther California is high so I can barley afford my used 2003 SANTE

24 - I am getting ready to finish up my last semester at Purdue in December with a degree in Building & Construction Management. Currently I am in the middle of my second internship with a Mid-size General Contractor. My two brothers and I are lucky enough that our dad lets us terrorize his boat for the time being. Hopefully I can find a job somewhere where I can continue to enjoy riding regularly, although the job market in my major is awful right now. Who knows, maybe I can make it back out to Phoenix again to ride year round!

Jeremy, I always ask myself that same thing. Where do people get the money for these 100k boats? Then I thought about it and mortgage payments vary pretty drastically across the nation and mine being a nice and big place near Seattle is about 3500 per month (I'm sure some have higher). Take that away and I would have a badass boat...that is if I didn't live where we have just 2 months of summer. So I play it in the middle ground with an '08 21' sea ray sport.

36, sales rep for a dental company. selling capital equipment. have an 09 sv23 enzo, had a vlx before that. I bought the enzo new but a dealer repo from a bank so it was half price.

I do financing for the majority of my toys only because i really focus on my investments to balance the interest and keep my cash makin cash. not married yet.lol the girl friend loves to boat so i am sure the next boat will be a joint decision

32 and Assistant Controller for the world's largest commercial real estate company. Mostly work in a SP&A role but currently working on a 5 year global PeopleSoft implementation project. Wife used to do Usability Consulting but now has a harder job as a stay-at-home mom taking care of our 3 year old daughter and 8 month old son. We co-own a 2005 Malibu LSV we bought new with my family in '05. Paid cash but that was obviously made easier by splitting the bill. Blessed to be able to own a boat and go to the lake whenever time allows...although it's never enough!

32 I- Own a Civil/ Structural Engineering firm in Houston. Wife is a Chiropractor and we just did a build-out for her own practice. 1998 Sanger V210. 03 Chevy with 215k miles. Wife is demanding me to get a new truck but I am holding out.

Just turned 30. Practiced law (civil litigation defense) for a few years, and recently made a switch to banking. First inboard was a 2000 Tige 20i that I picked up when I was finishing up school. Now have a 01 Centurion Elite V. I'd eventually like to pick up another older direct drive as a project/winter sanity initiative.

36 on Mon. Sell Pipe in the Oil and Gas. Niche item really, a liner in the pipe that mitigates corrosion AND eliminates mechanical wear. So to all you operators out there, give me a call, we have a 3rd baby on the way!

Almost own my boat bought it as a demo, couldn't pass it up when I already had a boat, lol. Own our family car and 3rd truck, paying on my truck now. I put nearly 1000 miles a week, financing is cheaper than leasing for my personal/company truck.

32 I- Own a Civil/ Structural Engineering firm in Houston. Wife is a Chiropractor and we just did a build-out for her own practice. 1998 Sanger V210. 03 Chevy with 215k miles. Wife is demanding me to get a new truck but I am holding out.

I'm 45 tomorrow.... hmmm... been in medical device sales management for 20 years. you don't want ANYTHING i sell. ( Spine implants currently) Got the Tige new in 2001 - paid cash- after I sold my Porsche and Wellcraft. Great trade.

27- I just sold the boat a little over a month ago a 99 Sanger V210, and took that cash with cash from a great q4 and bought a house =) Luckily I've got great friends with boats. My goal is to have a new MB by 30. I work for NetApp which is the third largest data center storage manufacture globally. I'm a field rep for them in Northern California.

Im 35 and own 9 Subways. Somedays its great and somedays Id sell them all in a heartbeat. The payoff will come when they are paid off. Just bought a 2010 Malibu VTX and financed it. Worth every penny in interest I pay when I see my 11 and 7 year old out there shredding.

32 - I'm a Wireless Coordinator \ Desktop Engineer for a large Agricultural Chemical Company in Collierville, TN a suburb of Memphis. Trying to relocate to the ATL area...anyone have any job leads?? We just got our 2005 Moomba Mobius LS in April...first boat and love it!

35 yrs old Director of Loss Control (Safety Engineer) for a insurance company that insures 110 schools systems ,50 county govts and 25 utility districts in TN also do a lot of safety consulting on the side throughout the us

27 years old, have a '05 Supra Launch 24SSV, full time employee in the wakeboarding industry and I'm starting my third year of law school this Fall. I've worked and gone to law school for the past couple of years, makes me appreciate the summers between semesters even more than when I just worked.

Played way too much golf growing up. Got down to 0.8 hdcp but it just seems like too much work to maintain any kind of decent playing ability. Plus, once it gets to this part of the summer I don't feel like being out in this crazy heat chasing a stupid ball around.